While Stoke City are busy splashing out £18m fees on new recruits, spare a thought for the club's youngsters who are trying to make their way in the game.

Academy chief Gareth Jennings admits it has never been harder for kids to kick open the door at Premier League clubs, but says producing those big-money players in-house is the task set himself and his team of coaches.

Maxim Choupo-Moting 'touch and go' for Man Utd

An update from Mark Bowen, who told Radio Stoke: “We spoke to Maxim today and he’s had a scan and there is not a lot on the scan but there are doubts over his hamstring. I’m not an expert in these things but I’m sure it will be touch and go for this weekend.

“It’s getting them all in the club on Thursday morning and how bumps and bruises and tiredness affect us going into a huge game on Saturday.”

Max Choupo-Moting did well on only his second start for Stoke City. (Image: Jan Kruger)

17:40Peter Smith

Stoke v Man Utd tickets on general sale

There are still tickets remaining for the bet365 Stadium on Saturday evening, priced from £40 to £50 for adults.

A statement from the club says: “The stadium’s capacity has increased to more than 30,000 this season, giving the opportunity for larger groups of fans to sit together – something that wasn’t previously possible on a packed-out matchday. Larger groups wishing to sit together may now have the chance, but as always you’ll have to be quick.”

Stoke City fans were in good voice as their team overcame Arsenal 1-0 at the bet365 Stadium on August 19, 2017. (Image: Alex Livesey)

17:16Peter Smith

Jack Butland gets Peter Shilton backing

Former Stoke number one Shilton, who won 125 caps for England, says Joe Hart is a good keeper, ‘nothing more’.

He adds in a column for the Daily Mail: “We need to see both Jack and Jordan Pickford in action for the national team before the World Cup. If you are not in the team, then you are not even being given the chance to make judgments and eliminate errors.

“Both can become better goalkeepers than Hart. I am excited by the pair of them and they need to push each other to become better and better.

“Watching them in the Premier League, they are the two English eye-catchers and I see something of myself in Pickford, in particular the way he directs from the back. I always felt it helps to be vocal. You are in a position to see the picture in front of you and I see him shouting and calling and generally looking in charge.

“He has confidence and agility, a developing technique, and I think he is ready to take that step up and hopefully prove me right. I like what I see.”

The day Stokies banded together to save their club from oblivion...

Can you imagine it... Stoke have been forced to withdraw from the Football League. What’s more, the club has been put into liquidation. Who on earth can save the Potters? Read on...

Goalkeeping hero Dickie Roose in action in 1904. Inset: News that Stoke had resigned from the Football League.

12:38

Ex-Stokie almost broke the bank at PSG...

That’s right, it wasn’t £198m Neymar or £165m Mbappe that pushed Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain to the brink of a Financial Fair Play probe, it was a former Potters who was flogged for just £7m. Here’s the story...

Steven Nzonzi celebrates with the Europa League trophy after Seville's victory over Liverpool in the 2016 final in Basel. (Image: David Ramos)

11:12

How important is Stoke City star Joe Allen to Wales?

Very, apparently. The Potters ace was suspended when the Welsh struggled to beat Marko Arnautovic’s Austria at the weekend. He’s back tonight for their World Cup qualifying clash with Moldova, and our colleagues at Wales Online have been examining wee Joe’s big contribution to the cause. Take a look...

Stoke City midfielder Joe Allen in action for Wales when they tangled with Glenn Whelan's Republic of Ireland in Dublin on March 24, 2017. (Image: PAUL FAITH /AFP)

11:10Peter Smith

Who's the best Stoke player on Mario Kart?

Peter Crouch has given an insight into what Stoke players get up to on their way to away games.

He told the BBC: “We all play Mario Kart believe it or not, even though we’re all adults. I’m the smallest one on the game, the little Toad. He gets around the corners but I’m very average. Bojan is the main man. He’s a saddo. He plays at home all the time, he’s unlocked loads of cars and he’s got a bike with mad wheels. I can’t compete with that.”

Time for a new champion, then?

10:53

So Delilah is here to stay this season... but

10:26

Bojan's settling in...

07:31

Pressure on...

Academy chief Gareth Jennings admits it has never been harder for youngsters to force their way into Mark Hughes’ team, but insists he and his coaches are working hard to start producing the Potters’ own £18m players. Here’s what he’s had to say...

Win tickets for Stoke vs Man United at the bet365 Stadium...

Courtesy of Stoke City FC, we have two pairs of tickets in the new “scoreboard” corner of the expanded and renovated bet365 Stadium for Saturday’s big match to give away. Fancy winning a pair? Then have a go at our competition...

Stoke City fans were in good voice as their team overcame Arsenal 1-0 at the bet365 Stadium on August 19, 2017. (Image: Alex Livesey)